M.V. hires company to oversee affordable housing services

MISSION VIEJO – City officials have enlisted the help of Keyser Marston Associates Inc. to oversee the city's efforts to provide affordable housing.

The city is paying Keyser $100,000 over the next two years to ensure that residents who apply for housing assistance qualify and that they make their payments, according to a city staff report.

There are five affordable housing projects in Mission Viejo. Some of those projects, including the Ridge's 144 condos, are still under construction, while others have been completed.

The city took over its affordable housing efforts when the state redevelopment agency was eliminated. The city also runs the single-family Housing Rehabilitation Program that provides mortgage assistance loans and grants to low- to moderate-income homeowners, the staff report states. The rehabilitation program is paid for through the federal Community Development Block Grant the city receives each year.

Keyser, which was selected through a bid process, will help the city verify homeowners' income, do follow-ups and prepare an annual summary report.

Of the $100,000, Keyser will receive $73,000 the first year because the initial workload will be higher than in subsequent years, according to the staff report. Keyser will receive $22,500 for the work it will provide the second year.